Rail-joint chair.



T. C. BLAKE.

RAIL JOINT CHAIR.

APPLICATION F H.ED JULY 10, m7.

mmmm mm, 4, WW.

WWN ESSES ATTORNEY RAIL-JOINT CHAIR.

inaaaooc.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEADOREG. BLAKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Beckwith, in I the county of Fayette and Stateof West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail- Joint Chairs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved rail joint and the principal object of the invention is to provide a joint chair in which the movable clamping jaw may be moved into tight engagement with the rail by a wedge slidably mounted and releasably held in a set position and to further so construct the stationary jaw and movable jaw ofthe joint chair that a very firm grip can be obtained upon the web portion of the rail thus preventing slipping or creeping of the rail.

Another object of the invention is to provide a joint chair which will be very strong and will support the end portions of the rails and prevent dropping of the rail ends.

Another object of the invention is to so construct this joint chair that there will be no danger of breakage from pounding as a train passes along a track.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the joint chair that it may be disconnected from the rails when desired within a short length of time and to further so construct the joint chair that it will not be injured when removed and thus permit the joint chair to be used again.

This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view showing the improved joint chair in top plan with rails connected therewith,

Fig. 2 is a view showing the improved joint chair in end elevation, with the rail in section,

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the improved joint chair, and

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the spreading wedge.

This joint chair is provided with a base 10 for resting upon the tie and carrying the stationary jaw 11 the inner face of which is cut to provide gripping teeth 12. It should be noted that this jaw 11 is cut as shown in Fig. 2 to conform to the contour of a rail thus permitting the stationary jaw to engage the web, the upper face of one side of the rail base and the lower portion Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 41, 1917.

Application filed July 10, 1917. Serial No. 179,73l.

of one side of the tread. This base-10 extends beyond the base of the rail 18 and carries a wall 14: in which there is provided a lower groove 15 and an upper groove 16, the lower groove 15 being provided to receive the side rib 17 of the movable jaw or block 18 and the groove 16 being provided to receive the side rib 19 of the spreading wedge 20. This spreading wedge 20 rests upon the rib 17 which rib is tapered longitudinally of the rail and is provided with a side rib 21 fitting into a groove 22 formed in the block 18. It will thus be seen that the wedge is substantially 'l'-shaped in cross section or in end elevation as shown in Fig. 2 and it will be further seen from an inspection of Fig. 4 that this wedge tapers longitudinally as disclosed by the dotted lines in this figure.

When in use, the joint chair is put upon the end portion of the tie with the rails resting upon the joint chair and engaged by the stationary jaw 11. The movable jaw or block 18 is then put in place to engage the rails as shown in Fig. 2 and with its toothed face engaging the web of the rail as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. After the block has been put in place, the wedge 21 is driven tightly into place and as it is driven tightly into place between the block 18 and the abutment wall 14:, the block is forced into tight binding engagement with the rails. After the wedge has been driven into place, the securing pin or key 23 will be passed through a registering set of openings 24; and 25 and the wedge is held against movement. The securing block or movable jaw 18 will thus be securely held in engagement with the rail ends and the rails will be clamped between the stationary jaw and the movable jaw. When it is desired to remove the rails, it is simply necessary to withdraw the pin 23 and drive out the wedge 20 thus releasing the clamping block 18 and permitting this block to be withdrawn. The rails will then be released and can be removed from the joint chair. It will thus be seen that there has been provided a joint chair serving as a rail chair and so constructed that the rails can be securely held in place but quickly removed when desired.

What is claimed is 1. A device of the character described comprising a base including a stationary jaw and an abutment wall, a clamping block positioned upon the base and cooperating mentioned seats. of the wall and block,-

- 2. Adevice of the character described comprising a base including an abutment wall and a stationary 'jaw a securing block positioned upon the base and cooperating comes of this; amm be Qbtained-for.

with the stationary jaw to secure rail ends placed upon the base between the block and stationary jiaw, the abutment wall being provided with a. longitudinally extending groove forming a seat, a wedge slidably mounted between the block and wall and provided with a side rib positioned in the seat of the -w.all,, and a fastener passing through the seat and side rib to releasably hold the wedge in a set. position,

In witness; whereof I aflix my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

THEADORE C. BLAKE.

'Vllitnesses M. SMLTH, HARRY VVILSON.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner ofv Batents. Washington, Dec. 

